Tent Cities

Ok, so here's the deal. I have to be out of where i'm at by the first. Problem is, I got no where else to go. I'm 24 and life seems rediculous right now. The other thing that seems rediculous is these so called Tent Cities i've read up on. I was looking at possibilities that are out there and so I called a couple that had a contact number and they tell me there's this interview process and a voting to decide who gets to stay there or not. Who gives them the right, I thought the whole point of it was for homeless people to come together and be in a single area to be able to help each other out. It's sounds like organized tent cities are becoming to high and mighty. They're homeless too and what gives them the right to decide who else can be homeless in their vicinity. They don't have to be given the land to use at all. And I can't travel to somewhere just for someone to say we will vote. That's not right.

Hello again Jeremy. You just answered my question to you in another thread, which was 'why do you need a car by September 1?'

If what you say is correct, it does sound as though tent cities may be heading down the autocratic path. That's a pity, but it may be due to the experiences of the people who live in them. If they've had trouble before with people who have just turned up, this may have prompted people for whom the tent city is their home to want some say in who comes.

It's an unfortunate fact of human nature also, that given the opportunity, some people will grasp at any little bit of power that becomes available to them. More likely though, it's because they want to keep the peace, stay safe, and avoid the tent city being noticed too much by the authorities.

You're right - they don't have the right - but try to see it from where they stand, because if you get in, those rules could help to safeguard you as well. Still, I'd avoid a situation like that for several reasons. One is that while numbers of people can help to keep you safe, numbers of unauthorised people turning others away could eventually result in trouble with those who couldn't get in. Another is that a concentration of people like that will certainly be noticed by local authorities, and that increases the danger of everybody being legally evicted. Local authorities can do this with ease, using the sanitation laws alone.

If you have a tent, have you thought about following some of this year's harvests, doing seasonal work to earn the money to get yourself another place before winter sets in?

Well, the last one I was researching was in california, And california seems like a better state, job wise, climate wise, It's not that cold in the winter. So perhaps I can figure something out in california. There's plenty of big cities and if i'm not mistaking a lot of the beaches have shower houses open to the public. Any other suggestions as to something along the ocean.

also - most homeless shelters i've looked up have rediculous rules - not so much as rediculous but most of them are for single women/women with children/or families. Not for single men. And the ones that are available for men are on a first come first serve basis each night. or have to be in or locked out by a certian time and then kicked out which can hinder job possibilities.

most of them are for single women/women with children/or families. Not for single men. And the ones that are available for men are on a first come first serve basis each night. or have to be in or locked out by a certian time and then kicked out which can hinder job possibilities.ive noticed this aswell. exept most shelters here are run by christains.

On the issue of shelter for homeless single males, I agree. For those who've got employment, they're faced with losing their job due to having to deal with on duty employees 'enforcing' rules, until they meet with someone who actually handles case management for them. Faith based operations who use 'program' clients as staff...too many times I've seen client's abused regularly while Directors and CEOs look at the problem from a statistic angle...until someone gets killed or there's a bad spin for PR in the media.

Tent Cities...voting someone 'in'. Autocratic DOES seem to be the word. Put a few portalets out...connect running water for showers and fresh water for cooking...let the local cops do sweeps...have everyone register for their space JUST LIKE ANY CAMPGROUND...and forget about any clicque running the show. All it would take is a sign in sheet for getting a space, and someone calling the cops if someone's out of hand...but to turn something like a tent city into something that's self governed to the extent of people voting others in to their neighborhood...that's wrong.

Local or national police check by a city official prior to being able to pitch a tent is the most needed. In all fairness, I wouldn't want homeless people having access to my personal information...which when you get down to it is what they'd have if they were making any real decision making needing a vote like what was mentioned.

In all fairness, I wouldn't want homeless people having access to my personal information... Then, in all fairness, HIJ, I don't think you have any right suggesting that individuals from a possibly corrupt regulating body, whether municipal or 'faith-based' ought to be collecting details from homeless people.

These forums are about respect for homeless people. No doubt you'll say I am mistaken, but to me that comment smacks of a lack of the most fundamental respect for them. They are people, just like you and me, who happen, at the moment, to have no home. I can see no way in which this makes them less trustworthy than any other group of people. Most of us wouldn't want many officials having access to our personal information either, but they do. Therefore please explain why you have a problem with homeless people having access to it?

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well i'm sorry you stupid fucks have not realized that society doesnt give a fuck about you. they dont know what to do with you so fuck you have the police deal wdith you.....

...I don't think you have any right suggesting that individuals from a possibly corrupt regulating body, whether municipal or 'faith-based' ought to be collecting details from homeless people.

These forums are about respect for homeless people...that comment smacks of a lack of the most fundamental respect for them...
I stand behind what I said..."I wouldn't want homeless people having access to my personal information"...that's common sense, when the information isn't necessary in all fairness.

Maybe you should think before you post. Hopefully you were personalizing on something else, and taking it out on me.

You're well off on thinking what you will, but my perspective is based on keeping homeless families safe in locations that service homeless families, after having experienced directly what happens when some standards aren't kept.

An example was the killing of a man on December 28th, 2005, a man known to my family and I who was shot in the head within 100 yards of where we were sleeping.

Say what you will Rose, but while you may have been moderating a message board thread, I've spent time BOTH as a single homeless male years ago and later as someone who kept a family together through it...don't lay it out about my statements not showing homeless people respect.

That's about as minimizing as what homeless bashers do in their words.

On one note, as Chairman and member of an advisory council for a homeless shelter for both singles and families, I had addressed the matter of applicants to the council filling out application forms that were reviewed by the committee.

Applications I received were folded and turned over to an Executive Officer of the shelter who was acting as recorder, due to me not being comfortable in personally handling confidential information of another resident.

I'm not holding anyone else to a standard that I personally wouldn't abide by...that's all.

I find it interesting that certain local councils in Australia now prohibit camping at public amenities such as showgrounds/pony club grounds. A large number of them have shower/toilet facilities and are free to use.

As housing becomes more expensive and financially out of reach for people, alternatives seem to be more prevalent such as caravan parks or in some cases, camping in a tent at the showgrounds.

In Australia there is a public housing crisis, there is not enough housing to cope with the demand and as the mortgage crisis worsens daily, the demand increases with inadequate funding by governement who fail to acknowledge or appreciate the problem. (there are no votes in helping the homeless).

I see today in the US, they are experiencing strong defaults in sub-prime mortgage lending, a financial product which is only new in Australia but common in the US.... this means that people who had homes can no longer afford to make payments on them and must sell or be evicted by a Bank/Finance group that ostensibly have to protect their investors funds.

Perhaps we will not see the same degree of pain and suffering from a loss of home and posessions here in Australia, but there is already reports of Bank housing reposessions being the highest in over a decade (since the property crash in 89/90). It has been said that anyone who has bought a standard property (excluding major wealth areas) in 2000-2002 in Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane is losing money on it simply because values have decreased (up to 40% of its original value in some cases).

Combine this with any increase in interest rates and the risk of losing the home compounds exponentially.

From the perspective of a financial burden on individuals and the social impact it has, there is now a definative increase in the risk of people under pressure either suffering some form of homelessness or comming into contact with service providers and utilising the resources that the homeless would ordinarily use.

The loss of a home to a family is tragic, particularly if the circumstances are socially driven and are beyond the control of the individuals. Homelessness or the experience of, however temporary, is thrust upon them in the most insidious way possible.

Just a few random thoughts, once again the spectre of homelessness rears its head because of circumstances not of the individuals chosing, stealing their joy and hope.

Let us pray it doesnt happen to anyone we know.

I was out and about on the weekend and found this new type of 'Swag'.

It's a type of portable shelter... all you need to add is a sleeping bag. Pack it up/Fold it up and carry it with you. Many people use them when camping out. The whole thing weighs less than 8kg.

I like the additions of fly-wire and the raised canopy style....they are quite waterproof and for the most part comfortable.

Anyone ever used this type before?

where do u get this? we r in illinois usa.

A tent city is a temporary housing facility made using tents. Informal tent cities may be set up without authorization by homeless people or protesters. As well, state governments or military organizations set up tent cities to house refugees, evacuees, or soldiers.http://www.cheaptr.com/ Tent cities set up by homeless people may be similar to shanty towns, which are informal settlements in which the buildings are made from scrap building materials.In the military, the term "tent city" usually refers to temporary living quarters erected on deployed military bases, such as those found in Bosnia or Iraq. Depending on the branch of service and the length of time the tent city has been in place, the living space may be equipped with most modern amenities. For sanitary reasons, military tent cities place toilet, shower, and laundry facilities at least 50 feet (15 m) from living quarters. Also, tents are typically divided into clusters of 8-10 to prevent the rapid spread of fire, which is of utmost concern because of the tent and bedding materials.

Jeremy - even very informal bands of homeless folks judge who they want to associate with. I've seen this in various encampments and groups in the Bay Area. Unless you're a real problem (drugs, wingnut, etc) you should have no problem in any tent city.

Ausboy - apparently the bursting of the real estate bubble is just starting in Canada, I'm not sure where you guys in OZ are on the downward slope, it may just be starting out where you are too. In which case, you're in for a wild ride. That "swag" isn't that light at the weight you quote, it's about 16lbs. But it looks very complete. It might be something I'd want to look into if I'm motorcycle camping or something in the future.

Zhangzahoozitz - I can say that vietnam era US Army tents can be very nice even in a rain storm, if set up right. An M-16 as a sleeping companion in the sleeping bag = lumpy sleeping though.

There was a guy named "JC" back in the old days when I was housed pre-homeless. He was a prolific trasher and was the type that finds the incredible stuff in the garbage, like gold kugerands and stuff. He used to make unique dwellings in the wierdest places.

He had a several room sandominium. He tunnelled in the beaches, probably high, and carved out several rooms under the sand. He installed furniture and everything, and would invite people over for company. It was crazy amazing.

He used plywood for the ceilings and then covered it with sand, before tunnelling. It was buried far enough to where the beach combers didn't rough it. But one day a beach patrol truck, parked right on top during some observation, and the roofs caved in.

He had tree houses, even bush housing, he was the master at camoflage for realz. He had one in the dog park, but what gave him away, is that all the dogs would go to the tree and look up and bark because they could smell something up there. I miss JC. He just disappeared and I've never seen him since.